Day of Prayer for the Church and Victims of Abuse Public Prayer during the Rite of Exposition LITANY OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD Prayer at 10:00am (or at another convenient time) Let us kneel and pray the Litany of the Most Precious Blood found on page of the prayer booklet LITANY Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God, the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, One God, Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, Response: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. 1
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, Blood of Christ, victor over demons, Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: Jesus, Bearer of our sins, you take away the sins of the world: Jesus, Redeemer of the world, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. have mercy on us. have mercy on us. Litany continues on the next page. 2
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. You have redeemed us, O Lord, in your blood. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously Lord Jesus, hear And made us a kingdom for our God. The leader concludes with the following collect: COLLECT Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, You have appointed your Only Begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed us to be appeased by his Blood. Grant, we pray, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through that same Christ our Lord. Amen. This Litany in honor of Jesus in His Most Precious Blood was drawn up by the Sacred Congregation of Rites and promulgated by Pope John XXIII on February 24, 1960. The devotion to Jesus in His Most Precious Blood was first popularized by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837, feast Dec. 28) who founded the Missioners of the Most Precious Blood. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite this litany. 3
ROSARY: Sorrowful Mysteries Prayer at 1:00pm (or at another convenient time) The leader begins with the Sign of the Cross. And then begins each prayer as indicated in bold. The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. The Our Father Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. The Hail Mary (3x) Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The Glory Be Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 4
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays, Fridays, and, during the season of Lent, on Sundays: 1. The Agony in the Garden The Lord s Prayer 10 Hail Mary s Glory Be 2. The Scourging at the Pillar The Lord s Prayer 10 Hail Mary s Glory Be This pattern continues for the following three mysteries. 3. The Crowning with Thorns 4. The Carrying of the Cross 5. The Crucifixion and Death The Fatima Prayer O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy. The Hail Holy Queen Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 5
Dialogue Prayer at the end of the Rosary Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. The leader concludes the Rosary with the following prayer. Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 6
SERVICE OF THE WORD Prayer at 3:00pm (or at another convenient time) Greeting In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God forever. R. Blessed be God forever. Introduction We gather today in prayer for our hurting Church, and we pray especially for the victims of abuse and their families. In our prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, we join our sufferings to the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross as we do every time we celebrate the Eucharist. In the presence of the Lord, let us call on him to bless his Church and to guide us in this time of crisis. Collect Let us pray: Father in heaven, our hearts are restless until they rest in you. Fulfill this longing through Jesus, the Bread of Life so that we may witness to him who alone satisfies the hungers of the human family. By the power of your Holy Spirit, lead us to the heavenly table where we may feast on the vision of your glory forever and ever. R. Amen. 7
The Word of God Either or both of the readings may be proclaimed. First Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-16 (see page 10 for the reading) Proclaimed by a reader. After the reading, pause for silent reflection. Gospel: John 17: 11b, 17-23. (see page 11 for the reading) The Gospel may be proclaimed by another reader or the leader of prayer. After the Gospel, briefly pause for silent reflection. Intercessory Prayer Reader: Confident in the abiding love of the Father, let us turn to him with our petitions. Lord God, you made an eternal covenant with your people: keep us mindful of your mighty deeds, we pray. R. Lord, hear our prayer. Reader: For your ordained ministers: may they grow toward perfect love, and preserve your faithful in the bond of peace, we pray. R. For the victims of sexual abuse and their families: may they know the healing love of all the members of the Body of Christ, we pray. R. For parish communities as they accompany each other in faith during this difficult time: may the Holy Spirit guide them and bring them peace, we pray to the Lord. R. 8
For each of us: may we become more responsive to universal call to holiness and be light for others who walk in darkness, we pray. R. For those who have died: may they find a place at the eternal banquet, we pray. R. Lord s Prayer Gathering our prayers into one, let us pray in the words our Savior gave us: Our Father Adoration continues in prayerful silence. 9
READINGS FOR THE SERVICE OF THE WORD Ezekiel 34: 11-16 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend me sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the land s ravines and all its inhabited places. In good pastures will I pasture them, on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest oracle of the Lord God. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal; but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. shepherding them rightly. 10
John 17: 11b, 17-23 Jesus raised his eyes toward heaven and prayed, saying: Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world and I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 11
BENEDICTION 4:30PM (or at another convenient time) Incensation and Hymn Come Adore/Tantum Ergo All kneel. The thurible and incense is brought to the presider, who is a priest or deacon. He incenses the Blessed Sacrament. Meanwhile, the people sing the following hymn. The text is found in the prayer booklet on page 10.. Another hymn may be chosen. 12
PRAYER Presider: Collect: Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist O God, who have accomplished the work of human redemption through the Paschal Mystery of your only begotten Son, graciously grant that we, who confidently proclaim, under sacramental signs, the Death and Resurrection of Christ, may experience continued increase of your saving grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. All: Amen. Alternate Prayers In place of the one printed above, one of the following prayers may be said before the Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. A. O God, who have taught the ministers of your Church to seek not to be served, but to serve their brothers and sisters, grant, we pray, that they may be effective in action, gentle in ministry, and constant in prayer. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. From the Roman Missal, For Ministers of the Church, Collect B. O God, whose Son promised to all those gathered in his name that he would be in their midst, grant, we pray, that we may be aware of his presence among us and, in truth and charity, experience in our hearts an abundance of grace, mercy and peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. From the Roman Missal For a Spiritual or Pastoral Gathering, Collect, Option B 13
BENEDICTION A humeral veil is brought to the presider. He stands, goes behind the altar, and blesses the people with the monstrance. REPOSITION The presider reposes the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. The presider, ministers and the assembly depart in silence. THE DIVINE PRAISES The Divine Praises may be recited after the Blessed Sacrament is reposed. Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen. 14
Much of the material in this resource was adapted from the FDLC resource, In Every Age, O Lord, You Have Been Our Refuge: Liturgies and Prayer Resources in Response to Recent Events. We are grateful to Rita Thiron and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions for responding to the liturgical needs of the People of God. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass, 1998, 1997, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist, 1992 United States Catholic Conference, 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, USA. All rights reserved. The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the summary of the readings from the Lectionary for Mass 1997, 1981, 1969, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. GIA Music GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Tune and some text are Public Domain. Translation of Tantum Ergo by James Quinn OCP. All rights reserved. 15